The Main Garage Door Adjustments

It is a fact that the automatic garage door is the largest moving system in any house. Its settings have to be adjusted accurately so that it can operate effectively and safely. More specifically, the components which are responsible for the door's movement have to be set accurately. These include the garage door spring and opener.

Accuracy for Proper Operation

Adjustment is required at the time of the garage door installation and the opener installation respectively. The torsion spring is adjusted so that it uses a sufficient amount of torque to enable the opening and closing of the door. Readjustment is required if the torque is too high or too low. In the first case, the door will hang above the ground and will not stay down unless you lock it. In the second case, it will hit the floor. Both situations must not be tolerated as the malfunctioning of the spring can cause damage to other components. There is a considerable safety risk as well.

When the weight of the door is changed, the spring has to be readjusted straight away. This usually happens when insulation is added and when stronger and heavier garage door hinges are installed. When the door is replaced, it will typically require a new spring unless the existing one is a match and in perfectly good condition as well.

The settings of the garage door opener are adjusted as part of the installation process. These include the lower and upper travel limits and the opening and closing force. They are adjusted in line with the size and weight of the door. Most openers have special knobs at the back of the motor unit which have to be turned into the required direction for increasing or decreasing the limit and force respectively. In some cases, there are screws instead of knobs and they have to be turned with the use of a screwdriver.

When the door is sticky or moves slowly, the issue is typically not with the opener's settings and operation. The system must be inspected and tested to identify the cause of the problem. Just like with the spring, readjustment of the travel limits and the force is required when the weight of garage door panels or hardware parts changes. After readjustment, the safety reversal mechanism must be tested.